Prepping for Physique Eating Chick-fil-A Twice a Day

So it’s been a while since I’ve posted. If any of you have read my previous blogs, I’m in the middle of contest prep for my very first NPC Physique competition. 15 days, 1 hour and 56 minutes to be exact. It’s safe to say that I have a completely new outlook on what it takes to be a bodybuilder, or any elite fitness athlete for that matter. I don’t claim to be elite or even a bodybuilder really, but one thing is for sure, I’ve worked my rear off to get to where I am.

The picture above is me 1 1/2 years ago in 2015. So how am I progressing? What’s the latest on your prep? For my day job, I work as the Kitchen Director for a Chick-fil-A in PA. This is a job that requires a lot of time, attention to detail, and a love for the brand. One of the perks is I get to eat Chick-fil-A whenever I want. The problem is one would not usually associate meal prepping for a competition with a fast food diet, but I have to make due with what I have. Why don’t you meal prep and take it with you? Sometimes I do. I take a Tupperware container of rice with me on carb days. For the majority of the time though, it’s the restaurants food that I’m eating.

Seriously? You’re seriously prepping for a NPC Physique show eating fast food on a daily basis. Yes, yes I am. Here’s how I do it.

First, it takes sooooooo much will power to not eat the strips, the waffle fries, or the delicious chilled grilled sub (my favorite item on the menu). It takes so much willpower to not smother my food in Chick-fil-A sauce or Honey Roasted BBQ. But I don’t. I stick with what I know I can eat. My meals usually consist of 6oz of chicken every few hours. Usually I can throw unmarinated chicken on the grill and eat that. If I feel I need a little sugar boost, I’ll throw 6oz of the chilled grilled chicken from the market salad in a bowl.

Second, I don’t drink soft drinks or sweet tea. Blasphemous right? No sweet tea? I have a remedy for this too. I carry in my pocket a bottle of Stevia drops found in the organic aisle of most grocery stores. Some unsweetened Tea, add a few drops of Stevia (zero calories and organic mind you) and boom! Sweet tea that is zero calories. If I feel adventurous, I’ll throw in a splash of diet lemonade.

Third, I have an incredible support system. My team believes in me. Do they pick on me for eating “bird food” as they call it all the time? Of course they do, but they got my back. Just the other day, the nuggets tasted a little off so we had to try them. They were very careful to not let Gerad try them, “it will ruin his diet! He’s not allowed!!!”

For those that aren’t as strict as me and just want to lose a few pounds, Chick-fil-A offers the superfood side that consists of kale and broccolini, fruit cups, or any of the salads that can be purchased with grilled chicken instead of fried chicken.

This isn’t meant to be an informercial or an advertisement for Chick-fil-A, it is merely to show that with a little determination, despite working in a delicious fast food restaurant, you can still achieve your fitness goals if you want it bad enough. In total during this contest prep, I have lost 23lb and went from 14% body fat to 8.5%. I did this all eating Chick-fil-A twice a day, five days a week. I still got 15 days, 1 hour, and 33 minutes to go til show day. We shall see where I end up. I’m determined to bring my best package to the stage. I may not place or be the best physique there, but as soon as I step on that stage, knowing all the hard work I’ve put in and seeing my complete body transformation….I’ve already won.